Veteran midfielder Luka Modric’s curling strike gave Real Madrid a 1-0 win over Sevilla on Sunday, lifting them eight points clear of Barcelona atop La Liga where they are unbeaten in 20 games.

Madrid’s last league loss came in September.

Girona, in third position, are farther off. They play Rayo Vallecano on Monday. That is their only game this week.

Due to injuries to Jude Bellingham and Joselu, as well as suspensions for Eduardo Camavinga and Dani Carvajal, Madrid struggled in the opening minutes, and Youssef En-Nesyri cost the visitors an early opportunity.

The 38-year-old Modric, who entered the game as a late substitution, scored a scorching goal from outside the box after 81 minutes, sending the referee’s furious Sevilla shouts for off-side. Until then, the game looked to be headed to a draw.

After ten minutes, VAR disqualified a similarly spectacular goal by Lucas Vazquez, a move that earned Real coach Carlo Ancelotti a yellow card and provoked jeers.

“We deserved the win, we kept up the intensity until the very end and this is what happens when you achieve that,” the coach from Italy stated.

Sergio Ramos, 37, made his return to the Santiago Bernabeu, where he played for 16 seasons, but Modric was the one who made headlines.

“We demonstrated that we don’t give up. Real Madrid is bred for that,” Modric remarked.

“We would have preferred to have scored earlier, but it’s even more thrilling when it comes late.”

Federico Valverde, a midfielder from Uruguay, had a fantastic game. In the first half, he nearly struck the crossbar and the post, and Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo also missed.

Lucas Vazquez’s goal was disallowed because Nacho had obviously fouled Youssef En-Nesyri in the run-up. Vinicius was the one responsible for the foul.

Before the game, there was a minute of silence to honor the victims of the apartment building fire in Valencia, Spain.

Xavi’s Barcelona team defeated Getafe 4-0 on Saturday, moving up to second place. Joao Felix and Raphinha, who were brought back, scored goals in the victory.

Fermin Lopez and Dutch midfielder Frenkie De Jong both found the net.

“We were aware of the gaps to target and repeatedly created them, which is how the goals were scored. “We feel a little more at ease now that we’ve won,” Barca head coach Xavi remarked.

lower side Twice, Almeria overcame early deficits to force a 2-2 draw with Atletico Madrid. After 26 games this season, the draw left the hosts without a victory.

After losing 1-0 against Inter Milan in the first leg of the Champions League last 16 midweek match, Atletico now sits fourth, 13 points behind leaders Real Madrid.